Aug 27, 2012 - Done touring the Dells

Well we are done touring the Dells and are back at the trailer. Had a real nice day today. First took a boat tour on the Wisconsin River through the Dells. After that we walked downtown and did the tourist thing and ate at High Rock Cafe. Rest of the day will rest and get ready to leave tomorrow for either Fairmont or Welcome, Minnesota. Weather has been very nice throughout the trip. Looking forward to turning west as we should be getting into area's of the country I have only seen on TV, should be exciting.

Aug 27, 2012 - Site Seeing Wisconsin Dells

Well we are up bright and early for a day of site seeing around the Dells. Really slept well last night, a little chilly this morning. We drove around town yesterday could not remember anything from when I visited here when I was a child. Most likely today we will take a boat tour of the upper or lower dells then walk through the tourist trap down town. Will take a few pictures and forward later. Still sensing cookie in the trailer and the truck. I guess it will take a week or so for that to go away.

Aug 26, 2012 - Wisconsin Dells

Well we got here safe and sound. Rained most of the way but it was not too bad. Went to eat at Paul Bunyan's, it was all you could eat and was very tasty. We will be staying here for two days. Went downtown and it kind of reminds me of Gatlinburg Tenn with a lot of stores and rides. Will get up tomorrow and ride a boat on either the upper or lower dells. From here our trip, on Tuesday, will turn more to the west.

Aug 26, 2012 - Leaving Bloomington for the Wisconsin Dells

Leaving Bloomington this morning for a two night stay at the Wisconsin Dells. When we get there will post more pictures, not much to photo but cornfields and roads. Saw something interesting here. Very Large Wind mills I assume they are for power. There must be hundreds of them all over the place. Last night I went outside and saw all of them flashing red lights at the same time over a very large area. It was pretty cool. I know your all thinking how boring can you get. Its just part of the adventure folks. Campground was OK I guess we are...

Aug 19, 2012 - Water parks, water parks, which one to choose?

We left under cloudy skies today. It still amazes us how little rain we've seen during this whole trip. There has been rain at night and a few showers in the morning, but overall we have been traveling in dry clear, skies. Today we had some choices to make, we could stop and visit some caves in southeastern Minnesota or travel to our destination and go to a water park. Karissa's vote came in quickly for the water park, Joshua took a little more time, but also voted for the water park, Grandpa liked the idea of getting all the driving done...

Aug 3, 2012 - Wisconsin Dells

Wisc Dells. Everyone who told us that was nothing in Minnesota was correct.....I thought they were being mean. Fields of corn and soybeans as far as we can see. Arrive at Dells. It a huge resort town for kids old and young. We went on a five hour river boat cruise on the Wisconsin River. It was a scenic cruise up river along high sandstone cliffs. It was all formed when this whole area was underwater about 500 million years ago. The Dells as its called by locals is the water park capital of the free world. Water parks and rides all along...

Jul 31, 2012 - A visit to Wisconsin Dells

July 31, 2012 Wisconsin Dells boat tour After we left the International Crane Foundation, we headed to the Wisconsin Dells where we took this 2 hour boat tour in the Upper Dells. Two stops were made. The first- to Witches Gulch, where we hiked up a neat cool trail in a deep crevice in the rocks. The 2nd was to see the dog jump at Stand rock. I tried to take a picture capturing the jump but my little camera was too slow to capture the leap.

Jul 20, 2012 - The Wisconsin Dells

Tonight, we are in Wisconsin's famous recreation area, The Dells. Very touristy. We will only be here one night and leave early tomorrow before the daily activities really get into full swing. We rode the first "rails to trails" trail in the country today, the Elroy-Sparta trail. The section we were on stretches 34 miles. The unique thing is that it uses three old railroad tunnels --one is 3/4 mile long, the other two are 1/4 mile long. You have to walk your bikes and carry a flashlight to see where you are going. You can see the light at...

Jul 12, 2012 - We're on the way!

Monday, July 9 Got the car loaded and left home a little after 2 pm. Stopped at the PA and OH welcome centers for new maps. Because we want to get past Chicago before rush hour tomorrow we passed Erie, PA, and went on to Ohio before stopping. We covered 348 miles today. Found a nice campground at Geneva State Park on Lake Erie. We got our tent up by 8:30 (before dark). We had electricity for the laptop, but no WiFi. The site was $28. Supper was snacks from the cooler; saw a raccoon while we were eating. Silly raccoon walked right beside...

Jun 24, 2012 - Wisconsin Dells - Part 3

The day before we left the Wisconsin Dells we took the campground owners advice and went over to the Kalahari Resort and walked around. I have never seen anything like it. The resort is huge. There is a movie theater, an indoor theme park, an outside water park, and inside water park, restaurants, all sorts of shops, and a convention center in addition to rooms and suites. We entered through the theme park. There we found a full size bowling alley (20 lanes), a laser tag area, a 32' rock climbing wall, a rope course that was high above our...

Jun 24, 2012 - Wisconsin Dells - Part 2

We took a boat ride to see the upper Dells. Thirty years ago when I took Carl to school in Ripon I drove over to the Dells after I left him at school. At that time I took the boat ride of the lower Dells - they are separated by a dam. The rocky bluffs of the Dells are made of Potsdam Sandstone and are remnants of ancient sand dunes. About 14000 years ago an ice dam gave way letting loose Glacial Lake Wisconsin. The flood waters poured through the area cutting out gorges likely within days or weeks and leaving behind the towering sandstone...

Jun 22, 2012 - Wisconsin Dells - Part 1

The campground we are in is not fancy but the sites are adequate - long pull throughs on gravel. We have full hook-ups and wifi but no TV. The only channel we can pick up is a family channel. It is located a couple of miles away from the crowds. There are a lot of tall pine trees which provide decent shade. The people are very nice. The owner grew up here in the Dells and is a font of information. Wisconsin Dells has become the water park capital - per their own advertising. Most resorts have water parks. There are also water parks not...